Xbox: You experience a problem using the Xbox Standard AV Cable (817018)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Xbox Console
  • Xbox Standard AV Cable
  • Xbox Video Game System

SYMPTOMS

You may experience one or more of the following behaviors while you are using the Xbox Standard AV Cable:
  • There is no video display.
  • The video display appears distorted or only a partial display appears.
  • The video display does not appear correctly on a projection TV.
  • The video display appears in black and white only.
  • White dots appear on the screen.

THINGS TO TRY

  1. Determine the status of the indicator light on the front of the Xbox console.
    • If the indicator light is blinking green and orange, a problem may exist with the AV connection. Follow steps 2 through 4. If these steps do not resolve the issue, see step 8.
    • If there is a steady green indicator light, continue to step 2.
  2. Determine whether you are using a Microsoft-licensed or Xbox-compatible standard AV cable. If this is the case, contact the manufacturer of the unlicensed peripheral for more information.
  3. Determine how you connected the Xbox console to the TV.
    • If you connected the console directly to the TV, verify the configuration.
      1. Turn off the power source to the TV and the Xbox console.
      2. Connect the S-video or yellow RCA cable to the S-video or yellow RCA output of the AV cable and to the S-video or yellow RCA input of your television. Make sure that the connectors are firmly connected.
    • If you connected the console to the TV through a VCR, verify the configuration.
      1. Turn off the power source to the TV and the Xbox console.
      2. Connect the S-video or yellow RCA cable to the S-video or yellow RCA output of the AV cable and to the S-video or yellow RCA input of your television. Make sure that the connectors are firmly connected.
      3. Verify that the same type of cable (S-video or yellow RCA) is used connecting the VCR to the TV as is used connecting the Xbox console to the VCR. If this is not the case, you may experience poor video quality.
      4. If you connected the Xbox console to the TV through a VCR, DVD movies may not play because of copy protection technology. This does not affect gameplay.
  4. Verify the input selection. Make sure that you configured the TV and the VCR to the correct input channels. Typically, you can find the Input Select option in one of the following locations:
    • A button on the front of the TV, possibly behind a hidden panel
    • A button on the original remote control
    • Move the channel up and down to high and low channels
    • An on-screen menu option
  5. Try to connect the console to the TV by using a different configuration than the configuration you are currently using.
    • If you connect directly to a TV, follow the standard setup procedures with a different television, if one is available.
    • If you connect through a VCR, follow the standard setup procedures for connecting directly to the TV.
  6. Determine whether the behavior occurs with only one disc, two discs, or more than two discs.
    • If the behavior occurs with only one or two discs, search the Knowledge Base for known issues for that particular disc(s).
    • If no known issues exist, return the disc or the discs to the retailer.
  7. If these steps do not resolve the issue, the AV cable may not be functional.
  8. If a replacement AV cable does not resolve the issue, you may require Microsoft to service the console.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/25/2005
Keywords:kbXboxConsole kbxboxext kbXboxPeripherals kbVideo kbXboxAmericas kbtshoot kbPubTypeKC KB817018
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.